Saes A 103
Saes A 103
Saes A 103
1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................ 2
3 References..................................................... 2
4 Design and Operation.................................... 4
5 Sampling and Verification............................. 10
6 Definitions..................................................... 11
Appendix I.......................................................... 18
Appendix II......................................................... 19
Appendix III......................................................... 20
Appendix IV........................................................ 22
1 Scope
1.2 This Standard shall apply to all marine vessels operating within Saudi territorial
waters.
Note: Refer to Saudi Aramco Sanitary Code (SASC-S-09) Marine Department
Operating Instructions, and MARPOL 73/78 Convention for compliance
requirements and standards covering marine vessels.
2.1 Any conflicts between this standard and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards and Procedures (SAESs and SAEPs), specific Corporate
General Instructions (GIs), Saudi Aramco Sanitary Code (SASC), Materials
System Specifications (SAMSSs), Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry
standards, codes, and forms shall be resolved in writing by the Company through
the Manager, Environmental Protection Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.
2.2 This standard does not conflict with Saudi Aramco Sanitary Code (SASC-S-09)
and MARPOL 73/78 Convention covering marine vessels. Any conflict
between this standard and the most recent government General Environmental
Regulations (GER) or Saudi government-ratified regional or international
standards or regulations, requires compliance with the most restrictive.
2.3 Direct all requests to deviate from this standard in writing to the Company, who
shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302 and forward such requests to
the Manager, Environmental Protection Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.
3 References
Page 2 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
American Society for Testing and Materials, Annual Book of ASTM Standards -
Section 11, Water and Environmental Technology, 2008-2009
Page 3 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (see Article 145 Protection
of the Marine Environment)
Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
Against Pollution from Land-based Sources (also known as the Jeddah
Convention), (PERSGA) 1982
Page 4 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Table A). They shall also comply with the Regional Organization for the
Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) Protocol, the Saudi
Aramco Sanitary Code, and, if applicable, the Royal Commission for
Jubail and Yanbu Requirements. Except in cases where only
comminution and disinfection is required (as indicated in Section
4.2.4.2), the facility is only required to comply with the coliform bacteria
and residual chlorine concentration standards in Table A, and those
restrictions outlined in 4.2.4.5.
4.2.2 No discharge into the marine environment is allowed in the Jubail and
Yanbu Royal Commission Area, except for untreated once-through
cooling water (see Royal Commission Environmental Regulations,
Volume 1 Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu) unless approval of
the General Supervisor EED is given and a permit for the discharge is
issued by the RCJY.
Page 5 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
4.3.1 New and expanded facilities shall comply with the point-of-discharge
standards promulgated by the Presidency of Meteorology and
Environment (PME in Document No. 1409-01 (see Table A) ), and also
referenced in the GER as Appendix-1; and revisions, except as specified
below. They shall also comply with the Saudi Aramco Sanitary Code,
the RCJY standards, and with the Regional Organization for the
Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) Protocol. The most
Page 6 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
4.3.3 New and expanded facilities located offshore shall comply with the
limitations on sewage and solid waste discharges in Section 4.2.
4.3.4 New and expanded facilities which are located in areas governed by the
Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu shall comply with the
Standards promulgated for those areas, or the Standards herein;
whichever are more stringent. Royal Commission boundary maps are
attached (see Appendices I & II).
4.3.5 New and modified facilities shall incorporate Best Practical Technology
(BPT) at the time of design, for control of discharges to the marine
environment.
4.3.6 Facility operators are required to submit an operating plan, in the form
of an Operations Instruction Manual (OIM), to the General Supervisor,
Environmental Engineering Division and Environmental Compliance
Division to obtain approval for discharge requirements and limitations.
Page 7 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
All marine loading and unloading facilities are required to provide slop
reception facilities.
4.5 Discharges from Drilling and Workover Operations in the Arabian Gulf and the
Red Sea
4.5.1.2 Drill cuttings shall not be discharged at water depths less than
15 m (45 feet). Drill cuttings shall not be discharged above or
on the sea surface. The discharge point of the cuttings shall
be 15 feet or greater below the surface of the water. In any
case, the discharge shall not take place in areas designated as
biologically sensitive (see Section 4.5.3). Drill cuttings
produced at depths less than 15 m shall be contained and
transported for disposal on land, or re-injected in place.
Page 8 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Page 9 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
The concentration of oil spilled during offshore well workover flaring operation
shall not exceed 15 ml/L nor produce a sheen at the water surface at the edge of
the mixing zone (the radius of the mixing zone depends on depth, but cannot
exceed 100 m) (see Appendix IV).
5.3 Facilities are required to comply with discharge monitoring guidelines stipulated
in Saudi Aramco Sanitary Code (SASC-S-2).
5.3.1 Discharges that are only comminuted are excluded from the requirement
of effluent measurements under 5.2. However, visual checks should be
recorded to ensure compliance with 4.2.4.5.
5.3.2 Discharges that are comminuted and disinfected should be sampled for
pH, Chlorine, and Coliform bacteria as per 5.2 above.
5.3.3 Offshore facilities with STPs will be inspected, and their effluents
sampled by EPD staff to monitor sanitary wastewater parameters as with
onshore marine discharge STPs. Facilities are still required to monitor
pH, Chlorine and Total Coliform as per 5.2 above these facilities.
Page 10 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
5.4 The General Supervisor, Environmental Compliance Division shall validate the
discharge parameters data to determine the compliance status of facilities.
6 Definitions
Alternative Oil-Based Drilling Fluid: drilling fluid in which the oil-water emulsion
phase contains greater than or equal to 10% of low aromatic content mineral oil or other
alternative low toxicity synthetic oils.
Best Available Technology (BAT): a term used with regulations on limiting and
mitigating pollutant discharges into the marine environment. Ideally, the concept
prescribes acquisition of the best state of the art technology available, regardless of cost.
In practice the use of cost aspect should be taken into account.
Best Practical Technology (BPT): a term used by PME indicating pollution control
technology which will provide acceptable performance in meeting approved standards,
but does not reflect the most advanced technology available. BPT is typically used in
the control of conventional pollutants which are normally found in sanitary, industrial
and/or similar wastewaters.
Drill Cuttings: formation material excavated during well drilling operations, forming a
component of drilling waste.
Drilling Fluid: drilling fluid, often referred to as muds or drilling muds in the oil
industry, is a circulationg fluid used in rotary drilling to perform any or all of the
various functions required in drilling operations (API).
Drilling Waste: liquid and solid waste produced during well drilling operations;
composed of drill cuttings, drilling fluids or muds, water, and all additives therein.
Page 11 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Grey Water: Sanitary wastewater other than that containing medical waste, kitchen
waste or human excrement (from toilets and urinals); discharged from any appliance or
fixture such as showers, sinks, or bath water.
Marine Vessels: All new and existing Saudi Aramco owned vessels or any vessels on
hire, leased or sub-leased, to Saudi Aramco: to include but not limited to, supply or taxi
boats, tugs, offshore drilling rigs, jack-up barges, work barges, and other special
purpose vessels.
MEPA: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Defense & Aviation, Meteorology
and Environmental Protection Administration established under Royal Decree No.
7/M/8903, dated 21/4/1401 H (25 February 1981) [presently known as the Presidency
of Meteorology and Environment (PME)].
Modified Facility: this is any facility where major expenditure of funds occurs for
equipment addition or replacements, or when a change in the operation or design of the
facility results in an increase in the discharge of wastes. For the purpose of this
definition, any replacement of equivalent kind and capacity is not considered a
modification.
New Facility: a facility which receives executive management final project approval
after the issuance date of this standard.
Oil-Based Drilling Fluid: drilling fluid in which the base fluid is a petroleum product
such as diesel.
Persistent Systemic Toxins: systemic toxins that are not decomposed or transformed.
Page 12 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu: a jurisdictional authority that administers
activities within the defined areas of Madinat Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah and Madinat Jubail
Al-Sinaiyah (see Appendices I & II).
Systemic Toxins: toxins that affect the entire body or many organs rather than
a specific site (e.g., potassium cyanide).
Toxic Substance: any substance which may result in death, disability and distress to
man, or death, distress, and damage to marine life; whether by direct contact, inhalation,
ingestion, or absorption.
Toxicity Bioassay: a test (e.g., LC50) that establishes the acceptable concentration of a
contaminant in water, or in the aqueous phase of contaminated sediment, that protects
pelagic or benthic organisms from direct toxicity.
Trash: similar to rubbish but primarily consists of paper, cardboard and wood.
Water-Based Drilling Fluid: drilling fluid that has water as the continuous phase;
which may contain alkalies, salts, surfactants, organic polymers in colloidal states,
droplets of emulsified oils, and various insoluble substances, such as barite and clay.
Page 13 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Types of water-based drilling fluids include, but not limited to, spud muds, lime muds,
gypsum muds, non-diperserd polymer muds, and salt water muds.
Revision Summary
6 September 2011 Major revision.
Page 14 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Page 15 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Page 16 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Notes:
(1) American Public Health Association, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
(2) American Society for Testing and Materials, Annual Book of ASTM Standards.
(3) The Saudi Aramco Research & Development Center shall approve other analytical procedures for environmental
monitoring.
(4) American Public Health Association, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
Page 17 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Appendix I
Jubail and Yanbu Royal Commission
Jubail Boundary
ARABIAN
GULF
JUBAIL ROYAL
COMMISSION BOUNDARY
UTM ZONE 39
Notes:
1. Coordinate System: UTM (Zone39)/Int. Spheroid (1985 Horizontal Adjustment)
2. Information shown was compiled from data furnished by the royal commission. Saudi
Aramco Land Division, and Saudi Aramco Surveying Services Division Records. No
survey of this site has been made by Saudi aramco Surveying Services Dvision.
Page 18 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Appendix II
Notes:
3. Coordinate System: UTM (Zone37) Saudi Arabia National Grid
4. Information shown was compiled from data furnished by the royal commission.
Saudi Aramco Land Division, and Saudi Aramco Surveying Services Division
Records. No survey of this site has been made by Saudi aramco Surveying Services
Division.
Page 19 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Appendix III
PASS/FAIL Standard and Sampling Protocol
for Toxicity Assessment of USED and UNUSED Drilling Muds
WMU/EED/EPD
Note: Before undertaking to use of Safra Oil in offshore applications the following conclusions from the EIA
for drill cuttings disposal in Manifa (KFUPM, 2009) must be taken into consideration:
It is advised to use only Water Based Mud (WBM) types such as HydroGuard or Performax instead
of Safra Oil mud (OBM) for drilling activities in Manifa. Safra Oil Mud contains several chemical
components which are highly toxic to marine organisms inhabiting both in the water column and
sediment.
Following is the recommended Environmental Protection Department (EPD) pass/fail limits and sampling
protocol for the assessment of toxicity of used and unused water-based drilling muds in offshore operations.
Background
In order to meet pass/fail criteria, water-based muds (WBM) used for Saudi Aramco offshore drilling and
workover operations must be maintained clean without any traces of diesel oil or any toxic materials.
Degreasers, paints, casing thread cleaners, rust removers, rig wash additives, motor oil, as well as
many other additives are very toxic chemicals. Trace amounts of these chemicals in the drilling mud will
kill the Mysid shrimp in the LC50 test (Ezzat and Buraik, 1997, and references therein). Addition of
approved alternative oil additives such as Safra* oil to water-based muds does not in itself constitute a
waiver for offshore disposal without testing for toxicity. Safra oil is an Enhanced Mineral Oil (US EPA
classification) which is an aliphatic, low aromatic, hydrocarbon distillate. The measure of Mysid shrimp
toxicity* for pure (unused/without additives) Safra oil is 180,000 ppm; which warrants classification of
Safra oil, under US EPA guidelines, as practically non-toxic. However, toxicity tests, in 1995, on
three mud preparations from Zuluf indicated toxicity levels which did not meet US EPA toxicity
standards (< 30,000 ppm) for offshore disposal. The US EPA has set a numerical limit of three
percent (30,000 ppm) on the toxicity of drilling fluids to be discharged to sea. In 2003, EPD was made
aware that additives (including diesel) are added to mud formulations before use, and that may explain
the toxicity test failures in 1995. Used or unused preparations of WBM, with or without Safra oil, must
meet toxicity testing limits set forth in the following section.
Recommendations
Page 20 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
* Based on the US EPA 96-hr LC50 Acute Toxicity Test. The 96-hour Acute Toxicity Test, a standard
test adapted from the US EPA protocol** allows drilling engineers to assess the potential
environmental impact of drilling fluid discharges and compare toxicity data for field muds (Ezzat and
Buraik, 1997).
** Suspended Particulate Phase (SPP) Toxicity Test. Appendix 2 to Subpart A of Part 435 - Drilling
Fluids Toxicity Test (US EPA)
Sampling Protocol:
References:
Ezzat, A. M. and K.A. Al-Buraik (1997). Environmentally Acceptable Drilling Fluids for Offshore Saudi
Arabia. Society of Petroleum Engineers; SPE 37718 (1997).
KFUPM (2009). Environmental Impact Assessment for Drill Cuttings Disposal at Manifa. Center for
Environment and Water, KFUPM Research Institute, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
Page 21 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Appendix IV
Excerpts from PME Draft Document
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Environmental Standard
Ambient Water Quality
Mixing Zones
a) The operator or facility will establish zones of influence from discharges which are exempt from these
standards but are however, subject to the requirements of the industrial and municipal wastewater standards.
b) The following requirements apply in relation to a mixing zone in a receiving water body:
i) the zone of influence or mixing zone shall be designed in order to minimise the impact on the environment,
however the absolute maximum size of a mixing zone shall be determined on a case by case basis using
the methodology in Appendix C and limited to a maximum 100 m radius;
ii) acutely toxic conditions should not be reached within a mixing zone; where tested, Methods must be in
accordance with 40 CFR Part 136 Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants;
Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Methods; USEPA.
iii) mixing zones should not impinge on sensitive areas, such as coral reefs, recreational areas or important
spawning or nursery areas for aquatic organisms;
iv) neighboring mixing zones should not merge or overlap;
v) no mixing zone should impinge the mean low water spring (MLWS) shoreline; and
vi) materials should not be discharged that settle and cause harmful or objectionable deposits; the growth of
undesirable aquatic life; or result in the dominance of nuisance species.
vii) Alternative mixing zone areas may on a case by case basis be agreed by the Competent Agency to
represent areas that have been designated as sites of significant economic importance (SSEI).
viii) An application for a SSEI variation must be made using the official form in Appendix D and will be
supported by evidence justifying the award of a temporary permit. The significance of this evidence will be
determined by the Competent Agency only.
c) Should an operator determine that the methodology specified in Appendix C is technically unachievable at a
specific locality, they must produce a study to confirm the best achievable mixing zone dimensions available
using BAT.
d) The method for carrying out this assessment must be approved in advance by the Competent Agency.
This study must also make an assessment of the impact the new mixing zone will have upon the environment
and be submitted to the Competent Agency.
Article III Classification of Water Bodies
Water Body Classification
a) The classification a waterbody receives determines the environmental quality objectives (EQOs) that apply
to that water body (criteria for EQOs specified in Appendix B.
b) All water bodies must be classified either as fresh surface water, groundwater, or coastal water.
The definition of each of these water-bodies is set out in Appendix A.
c) All coastal water shall be sub-divided into the following usage related classifications by the Competent
Agency (as set out in Appendix A) for the purposes of monitoring ambient water quality:
i) marine;
ii) high value; or
iii) industrial.
d) Coastal waters can be further classified into being primary or secondary recreational zones if they meet
the criteria, also set out in Appendix A.
Page 22 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Appendix IV (Contd)
Changes in Classifications
a) The Competent Agency can amend usage zones following their initial classification at any time.
b) It is the responsibility of the Competent Agency to make any changes to usage zone classifications
known to affected persons, facilities and operators so that the classification protects those sensitive
receptors affected.
c) Where the Competent Agency is of the opinion that any coastal area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
i) is of special interest by reason of its flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features; or
ii) is of special character or exemption,
the Competent Agency shall update their central usage records and amend their monitoring and
analysis programme accordingly.
d) The Competent Agency is obligated to verify the usage zone classification every 10 years. Verification
activities will vary depending on the development of the local area during the intermittent time and
changes in environmental conditions. In doing this the Competent Agency shall show due diligence in
the verification process.
Sub-
Classification Code Definition
division
Water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore
Groundwater - A
spaces and in the fractures of geologic formations.
This includes all fresh waters on the ground and includes
Fresh surface
- B water within rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands,
water
marshes, wadis and man made reservoirs.
Coastal waters are those that are under the jurisdiction of
KSA (the territorial coastal waters being 12 international
nautical miles (22.2 kilometres) of the shoreline). The sub-
Coastal water Marine C1
division marine is the default when the coastal water body
does not meet the criteria for high-value or industrial,
detailed below.
Areas of coastal water shall be classified as high value if
they are designated as locally, nationally or internationally
Coastal water High value C2 protected areas by any Concerned Agency (this includes
but is not limited to the Competent Agency, ROPME,
NCWCD and PERGSA).
Water bodies shall be classified as industrial if they are
adjacent to terrestrial zones that are classified as industrial
through local or national planning regulation. The extent of
the aquatic environment classified as industrial will
Coastal water Industrial C3 represent a seaward extension of the terrestrial boundary
provided that it does not impinge upon high areas classified
as C1 or C2. Furthermore, industrial ambient conditions will
extend no more than a 500 meter radius from the edge of
any mixing zone.
Page 23 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Appendix IV (Contd)
Where:
Dave = average water depth at outfall location2 3
Notes:
This method represents the basic screening model for defining the maximum horizontal extent
of a mixing zone.
Where modelling shows that the maximum extent of the mixing zone is unachievable,
the Competent Agency must be consulted for approval on a case by case basis.
The maximum horizontal extent of the mixing zone radius will be 100 m at any time.
1
Method adapted from Jirka et al (2004). Published by the European Water Association.
2
Average depth applies where diffusion technology is utilised for discharge and must be measured at 10m increments along the
length of the diffusion apparatus. Otherwise, the depth at the end of the outfall applies.
3
For the gulf a correction factor of +10 is applied to depth to take account of local bathymetry.
4
These values are adjusted to accommodate for the conditions in the Arabian Gulf (i.e., shallow waters)
4
Horizontal radius
Page 24 of 25
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-103
Issue Date: 6 September 2011
Next Planned Update: 6 September 2016 Discharges to the Marine Environment
Appendix IV (Contd)
Table C3 A Look Up Table Showing the Radius of a Mixing Zone
for Given Values of S and Dave for the Red Sea and Gulf of Arabia
5
Horizontal radius
Page 25 of 25